The intermembrane ceramide transport catalyzed by CERT is sensitive to the lipid environment

►Ceramide in fluid membranes is available for CERT mediated transfer. ►Ceramide transfer from tightly packed environment such as in sphingomyelin is markedly reduced. ►CERT favors membranes that contain phosphatidylinositol 4-monophospate, PI4P. ►The membrane matrix surrounding ceramide is largely affecting the transfer activity of CERT.